Food Distribution: Monday 5:30pm-7:30pm, Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday 10am-12pm

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Board of Directors

Heath Watson - Interim President

Mike Bowman - Vice President

Rebecca Hart - Treasurer

Kristina Garcia - Secretary

Teresa Williams - Director

Terri Davis-Scully - Director


Pantry Support

Joe Mackin - Co-Founder & Advisor

JoAnne Fell - Executive Director

Kyle Mann - Pantry Operations Coordinator
Julianne DiBlasi - Marketing Consultant
John Tornga - Dunedin City Commissioner Liaison

Core Values

Respectability

We shall honor our guests, our donors, and our volunteers at every opportunity.

Accountability

a) We will honor the public's trust by maintaining the highest ethics and stewardship standards. b) No one should go hungry. c) We will operate with transparency and fiscal accountability.

Accessibility

We will ensure all guests equitable access to our food pantry.

Service

a) We will serve others in a courteous, respectful, sensitive, non- judgmental, and compassionate manner. (b) We shall strive to increase the dignity of those we help as they are our guests.

Faith

We have a strong belief in God and the ability to succeed.

Availability

We will ensure that quality, nutritious food and related supplies are available throughout our service area.

Advocacy

We will be the community's voice about hunger and speak out for those who do not have a voice. We will maintain and communicate information to others about food insecurity.

Collaboration

We will actively seek to form and broaden partnerships committed to furthering our mission to relieve hunger.

Dunedin Cares is a Client-Choice Pantry

A client-choice food pantry enables guests to choose their food as they would at a grocery store, rather than getting bags of food pre-packed for them by pantry staff. 


Guests can choose their food creating an atmosphere of respect, building trust between clients, staff, and volunteers.

Download the 2021 Annual Report PDF

Pantry News

April 2022 - Joe Mackin's Retirement

On April 1st, 2022, Co-Founder Joe Mackin will retire from his service as the President of the Board of Directors at Dunedin Cares Food Pantry.  Joe opened the doors of Dunedin Cares with co-founder, beloved Ed Hughes, in November of 2015 and just a handful of volunteers in a 600 square foot back room of the Faith Lutheran Church. As the word got out locally to those in need, the guest numbers rose steadily each month, pushing the Pantry to find more space. Joe and Ed worked tirelessly with the community to secure the current Pantry building, a larger, modular space in April of 2018.  


When Ed passed in 2019, Joe kept the mission alive as the President, building the volunteer base, community contacts, outreach programs, and guest relationships that make Dunedin Cares the special place it is today.  


In March of 2020, the pandemic presented Dunedin Cares with real challenges- food distribution procedures that were safe for both volunteers and guests, the sharp rise in need, and limited quantities of necessities available. Joe was steadfast and instrumental in his efforts to continue to allow the Pantry to provide for all in need.   


Joe also became the unofficial Santa Clause for many local families by creating and holding an annual Holiday Toy Drive for guests with children. His leadership and uncanny ability to make miracles happen demonstrated itself year after year with an abundance of donations from far and wide, creating happier holidays for thousands of our young neighbors.  


It didn't matter if it was collecting food, building shelves, helping guests, or speaking about the Pantry to lawmakers or organizations, Joe was always working to make the community a better place.  


Thankfully, Joe will still be part of the Dunedin Cares Pantry Family as a mentor, co-founder, and volunteer as it continues to grow and provide help to those in need.

Our Story

Pantry History

Members of the Dunedin Social Services committee acknowledge that through their research, in our community many families were hungry, felt forgotten and didn’t know where to turn for help.  Surveys indicated that families were  facing poverty from lost jobs, illness, financial setbacks, medical bills, etc.  What little money they had was used to pay rent and utilities having to cut back on food.  There were very few food pantries in Dunedin.  The local churches attempted to provide food, clothing, pay utility bills but were not staffed to fill the overall need.


As a result of 4 years of surveys, meetings, discussions, and the hunger issue growing, Ed Hughes and recruited board members formed Dunedin Cares, Inc. a Florida corporation with 501(c)3, nonprofit status.


It was brought to the attention of The Board of Directors of Faith Lutheran Church that Dunedin Cares was looking for a permanent location for their food pantry.  The Board approved, allowing Dunedin Cares, Inc.. to operate the Food Pantry  in a room located in the back of the church.  The 600 square foot space comes with it own rear entrance that works well for food distribution.


The Food Pantry opened it’s doors November 12, 2015 for the first distribution of food bags to Dunedin residents in need, providing food, help and hope. Over time we evolved from providing food bags to our clients to our current  “Supermarket ” approach which encourages our clients to choose the items they would prefer.


Over the first two years Dunedin Cares has had a steady 15% growth of clientele each month. So by the fall of 2017 Dunedin Cares had outgrown their current donated space.  Two local churches have been most generous in reaching out to us. One has been providing us space and is now going to provide the property where our donated Modular building will be located. The generous donation of the building from the other church is just incredible.  The donated modular was moved to our new location and we began major renovations so as to comply with Public Safety codes.  The modular upgrades were completed, inspections were passed and we were ready to greet our clients at the new Food Pantry on April 4, 2018.  


With the opening of the new food pantry,  Dunedin Cares has tripled our square footage.  We could not have done this without the generous donations and the many hours our volunteers gave.  

Testimonials

“Thank you for what you do to help area friends in need.”

“Thank you for what you do to help area friends in need.”

“Thank you for what you do to help area friends in need.”

“We wish to express our sincere gratitude for your support of “Honoring the Service of Vietnam Era Veterans.” The beautiful display of the Vietnam Service Ribbon made from canned goods was a huge hit with the veterans”


Daughters of the American Revolution

Thank You

“Thank you for what you do to help area friends in need.”

“Thank you for what you do to help area friends in need.”

“My husband and I would like to thank you for your generosity.  The end of the month is very difficult for us with food provisions we use everything.  


If you need volunteer help for the holiday time I would like to give back my time.”

A Piece of Peace

“Thank you for what you do to help area friends in need.”

A Piece of Peace

“I’d like to extend my gratitude once again for my experience with Dunedin Cares. Not only for the food or his over the ordinary efforts but mostly for allowing me to be in a moment of true care. 


For me, this is a place where I found a piece of peace. Thank you Lord for sending there and being able to meet a man of your faith.”

Our Founder - Edward (ED) Hughes

Dunedin Cares Founder & First President

It is with heavy hearts that the Dunedin Cares Family said our final good byes to our beloved leader. Ed Hughes, Dunedin Cares Founder and President passed away July 25, 2019 at the age of 80.  Ed and his wife, Grace moved to Florida 14 years ago from Long Island, New York and immediately became involved with the community. 


 In addition to being an active member of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Dunedin, Ed became involved in numerous volunteer activities through out our county. Ed’s strong determination in the fight to alleviate food insecurity in our community guided him through the lengthy process to establish Dunedin Cares Inc.’s Food Pantry in 2015.  


This past May, Ed was honored at a luncheon introducing him as one of the 2019 Inductee to Dunedin’s Senior Hall of Frame for his contributions to the City of Dunedin and it’s residents. 


Even as his time approached, Dunedin Cares was in his thoughts, conferring on grants and requesting in lieu of flowers, a memorial donation be made to Dunedin Cares Inc. (P.O. Box 1435, Dunedin FL 34697). 


Ed’s altruistic attitude never stopped.


Ed is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Grace; three daughters, Grace (Michael) Sherman, Mary (Keith) Edrehi and Elizabeth (Michael) Separ; brother, Joseph Hughes of New York and eight grandchildren.


Ed was a leader, mentor, teacher and father figure to the volunteers at Dunedin Cares. His towering presence and over sized grin will be missed by so many at the pantry but certainly not forgotten. 


Your guidance will be missed Ed but we will continue your work until hopefully the job gets done.

Copyright © 2021 Dunedin Cares, Inc. - All Rights Reserved.

DUNEDIN CARES, INC. IS A NON-PROFIT 501 (C) 3 CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION.

1630 Pinehurst Road, Dunedin FL 34698

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